MAVIS STAINES (Toronto, Canada)

Mavis Staines is artistic director of the National Ballet School in Toronto. In 1973 she began with the National Ballet of Canada, becoming first soloist in three years. In this period she met Rudi van Dantzig, artistic director of Het Nationale Ballet and choreographer Toer van Schaik, who were guests at the NBOC. She danced with Het Nationale Ballet from 1978 to 1981 when a serious leg injury forced her to end her career. Staines became assistant director of Canada's National Ballet School in 1984. In 1989 she was appointed artistic director and ballet principal. In addition Staines is a member of the Dance Advisory Committee of the Canada Council and has been a jury member of the prestigious Prix de Lausanne numerous times. Currently she is the President of Prix de Lausanne. At the conference she will speak during the workshop on transitions in dance careers and during the closing plenary session on Saturday.